Member Resources #2

TESTING EXTERNAL LINK

TESTING PROTECTED INTERNAL DOC

“Child Welfare Advocacy Resources and Tools”

California Tribal Families Coalition advocates for improved consistent county, state and federal policies that support Indian Child Welfare Act compliance, tribal sovereignty and the well-being of tribal children and families. In this effort, CTFC:

1.        Gathers information from tribes to identify policy priorities through listening sessions, tribal convenings, and ongoing tribal outreach.

2.        Conducts research and prepares reports, FAQs and webinars on important issues in Indian child welfare.

3.        Monitors county, state and federal policy implementation through participation in state and federal consultation efforts and workgroups, review of issued guidance and regulations, plans and reports, and legislation.

4.        Advocates for changes to proposed polices, guidance and legislation through oral and written comments including preparing model comments for tribes.

Current State Policy Efforts

Current Open Consultation/State ICWA Implementation Efforts and Advocacy Tools:

1.    California Department of Social Services Tribal Consultation and Tribal Advisory Committee

March 2025

a.         Pre-Meeting Analysis

b.         Model Comment Letter

c.         CTFC Comments

California Tribal Families Coalition advocates for improved and consistent county, state and federal policies that support Indian Child Welfare Act compliance, tribal sovereignty and the well-being of tribal children and families. In this effort, CTFC:

• Gathers information from tribes to identify policy priorities through listening sessions, tribal convenings, and ongoing tribal outreach.
• Conducts research and prepares reports, FAQs and webinars on important issues in Indian child welfare.
  • CTFC Tribal Early Intervention Report
  • CTFC Tribal Criminal Background Checks Report
  • CTFC Tribal Customary Adoption and the Resource Family Approval Report
  • CTFC Child and Family Teams Report
  • CTFC Education Report
• Monitors county, state and federal policy implementation through participation in state and federal consultation efforts and workgroups, review of issued guidance and regulations, plans and reports, and legislation.
• Advocates for changes to proposed polices, guidance and legislation through oral and written comments including preparing model comments for tribes.

Through our advocacy over the past 5 years:

• California State Department of Social Services (CDSS) developed an Office of Tribal affairs to assist the Department in engaging and consulting with tribes on policies that affect tribal children.
• CDSS developed an ICWA Statewide Plan including the implementation of an ICWA Complaint Hotline for tribes and ICWA Data Dashboard.
• State implementation of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act includes requirements for the state and counties to engage and consult with tribes in the development of prevention services and to ensure tribal collaboration in the provision of prevention services to tribal children.
• Resource Family Approval Written Directives include specific county guidance to collaborate with tribal representatives to apply the social and cultural standards of the Indian community to every home approval for an Indian child.
• Tribal Customary Adoption – CTFC ensures regulations are reflective of the intent of the law and addressing conflicts with implementation of Resource Family Approval.
• Statewide Integrated Core Practice Model includes tribal collaboration guidance and consideration of culturally appropriate engagement and service provision strategies.

Current State Policy Efforts

Current Open Consultation/Collaborative Engagement Efforts:

• Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)/Tribal Consultation
  
  • February 23, 2024 – Tribal Consultation (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
  • February 23, 2024 – Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
    
    • Agenda with Meeting Link
  • June 7, 2024 – Tribal Consultation (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
    
    • Agenda with Meeting Link
  • June 7, 2024 – Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
    
    • Agenda with Meeting Link
  • September 25, 2024 – Annual Tribal Consultation Summit/Tribal Advisory Committee (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
  • September 26, 2024 – Annual Tribal Consultation Summit/Tribal Advisory Committee (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
  • December 13, 2024 – Tribal Consultation (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
  • December 13, 2024 – Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
• California Child and Family Services Plan (2025 – 2029)
  
  • April 5, 2024 – Tribal Consultation (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)
  • April-May – Feedback from Tribes and stakeholders is received, and subject matter experts are notified to provide responses for a second CFSP draft
  • May 1, 2024 – CDSS will distribute CFSP Draft 2
  • May 17, 2024 – Tribal written comments on CFSP Draft 1 DUE
  • June 13, 2024 – Tribal written comments on CFSP Draft 2 DUE
  • June 30: Final CFSP is due to ACF
  • June-August – Further feedback from ACF, Tribes, and stakeholders is incorporated into the CFSP
  • July 23, 2024 – CDSS response to written feedback due to Tribes on Draft 1
  • August 18, 2024 – CDSS response to written feedback due to Tribes on Draft 2
  • August/September – ACF approval of CFSP is received
• California Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR)
  
  • 2023 Annual Progress Services Report (submitted to ACF on June 30, 2022)
  • 2024 Annual Progress and Services Report (submitted to ACF on June 30, 2023)
• Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)
  
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Available Funding for Tribes through the California Department of Social Services
  • CDSS Overview
• Tribally Approved Homes Compensation Program
  • All Tribal Letter – TAH Compensation Program
• Tribal Dependency Representation Program
  • Tribal Dependency Representation FAQs
  • FY 2024/2025 Letter of Interest Due to CDSS on or before June 30, 2024
    • Updated Letter of Interest Template – 4/18/24
• Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support Program
  • All Tribal Letter – Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support Program
• Flexible Family Supports and Home-Based Foster Care
  • All Tribal Leader Letter – Tribal Set-Aside Funds for Flexible Family Supports and Home-Based Foster Care

Current Federal Policy Efforts

• Federal Notice of Proposed Rule Making
  • NPRM to amend AFCARS regulations to require agencies to collect ICWA data points
    • Tribal Leader Letter
    • CTFC Model Comments – DUE April 23, 2024
      • Submit electronically HERE

Current California Department of Social Services Workgroups:

• AFCARS Workgroup
• CFT/CANS Implementation Workgroup
• FFPSA Workgroup
• ICWA State Plan Workgroup
• Placement Workgroup
• Resource Family Approval (RFA) Written Directives
  
  • Written Directives v.8 (effective November 2, 2022)
• Structured Decision Making Workgroup
• TCA Workgroup

Past CTFC State Policy Efforts Can be Viewed HERE.